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THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.

FOVEAUX STRAIT FROM THE EASTWARD.

Vessels coming from the eastward along the coast should pass about 3 or 4 miles off Slope Point; when abreast of it the Bluff Hill will look like an island, bearing about west till the low land to the north of it appears. Waipapapa, 7½ miles to the west of the Slope, is a low sandy point with detached rocks, and should be passed at the same distance off, as foul ground is said to extend from it 2 or 3 miles. The Seal Rocks, Tobi Rocks, and a dangerous break 2 miles outside the latter, lie in a line about N.E. by N. ¼ N. from Green Island, the break being distant 4½ miles. To clear these dangers, Dog Island should not be brought to bear to the north of west till Green Island bears S. by W. ⅓ W. After passing these, a course may be shaped for any part of the Strait to the westward, or for the Bluff as hereinafter directed. Vessels requiring a pilot should not run in for the port during the night nor when blowing hard between east and south, especially on the ebb, as then there is a heavy “tide-rip,” and the pilot may not be able to put off. But on the first of the flood they may run down, either north or south of Dog Island, till within signalling distance of Bluff Hill, or Starling Point Stations, and ascertain whether the pilot can put off or not; if not, they may dodge between the Bluff and Stewart Island till moderate, or stand across for Port William, which is easily entered at such a time, and by keeping the Bluff Hill on a N. by E. ¾ E. bearing, they will be led right into it. The 10-feet patch which lies in the entrance of that port is well marked by kelp, and it may also be avoided by keeping close to either the south or north head of the Bay.

Vessels passing between Dog Island and the Sandspit should give the island three quarters of a mile berth, and steer about W. by S., not bringing Lookout Point to bear to the southward of west till Starling Point bears north; then, if bound for the Bluff, and “M.C.S.” is shown, steer in as before directed with southerly winds.

During moderate weather, and the wind between north and south, round easterly, the north passage should be taken, and after passing Waipapapa, a course steered about W. by N. for the sandy beach about three miles to the eastward of the harbour, till within half a mile of the shore, when a black buoy will be seen, which marks the N.E. end of the sandspit; it is moored in 5 fathoms, bearing from Dog Island N. by W. ½ W., from Bluff Hill Flagstaff E. by N. ¾ N. The north passage is between this buoy and the shore. While waiting for a pilot, keep to the eastward of this buoy, or do not close Bird Island with Dog Island. There are also two white triangular beacons which lead through this channel. These, if seen before the buoy, should be brought in a line about W. by N., and they will lead close to it. When the wind is easterly, and ebb-tide, allowance should be made for not getting set to the westward of this. The western beacon has a small triangular top to distinguish it. The northern passage should not be taken by vessels drawing over 15 feet, near low water, nor when there is a heavy swell on.

When the wind is between north and south, round westerly, vessels should beat to the westward, outside of Dog Island, till off Lookout Point; then follow the directions before given for vessels from the westward.

Vessels coming from the southward, on the east side of Stewart Island, should take the passage between Fancy Group and Half-Passage Rocks. It is clear of hidden dangers and well-defined; the islands being of moderate height and the rocks large and well above water. The tides set S.E. and N.W. from 1 to 3 knots. Bruce Reef, laid down off Port Adventure, is not known to any local men who have been a great many times over this ground, nor to the Maoris living near the locality, but some say that after heavy southerly gales it occasionally breaks somewhere in this locality.

The harbour can be taken at any time of the tide, with the wind from N.N.E., round easterly, to S.S.W. With all other winds there is perfectly safe anchorage both south and north of Starling Point, about two cables from the shore, in from 6 to 8 fathoms, good holding ground. Vessels having only passengers to land need go no farther than this. There is a red light shown on Starling Point between sunset and sunrise, 20 feet above sea-level.

Masters with a sheet chart of Ruapuki may find good shelter from westerly wind on the east side of that island; they should haul close round the north end, which will enable them to see their position clearly.

Vessels may, in fine weather, drop their anchor or a kedge in any part of Foveaux Strait where the water is not too deep, to prevent them from being drifted about by the tides.

It is high water, full, and change at Bluff Jetty at 1 hour 20 minutes. The current runs in one hour after high water, and out one hour after low water. In the middle of the Strait the flood current runs to the eastward two hours after high water, and the ebb to the westward two hours after low water.

The channels are marked by red and black buoys; when entering red buoys are to be left on the starboard hand and black on the port.

There is an excellent wharf with 20 feet alongside at low water, and no range or swell whatever sets into the harbour. Railway trucks come alongside to load and discharge cargo. There is no regular steam tug at present, but the services of coasting steamers can often be obtained at moderate rates.

I may here state that among those unacquainted a needless dread of Foveaux Strait exists, in consequence of the prevalence of westerly gales, but these gales are not much more frequent than in many places on the same parallel of latitude in both hemispheres, and they have this advantage, that they are seldom accompanied by thick weather or fogs, and there are but few Straits where such perfect shelter, with ample room and safe anchorage, is so easy of access and can be so readily obtained as under Stewart Island.

The local whaling vessels invariably take shelter under Stewart Island, and when it moderates seem to have no difficulty in getting to the westward to their whaling ground off the Solander.

In a short time a light will be placed on Centre Island, which will greatly facilitate the navigation of these Straits.

There exist two sunken rocks near Dog Island. One lies a quarter of a mile from the west end of the island, with the lighthouse bearing S.E., and has only 2 feet of water on it at low-water spring tides; the other lies a quarter of a mile from the east end of the Island, with the lighthouse bearing W. by S., and is awash at low-water spring tides.

NEW RIVER.

Vessels entering New River should avoid the sunken rock, now called Guiding Star Rock, which bears from Bombay Rock about S.W. ½ S., distant two cables; it has only 5 feet of water on it at low-water springs. Abreast of it a white buoy is moored, which should be passed on the starboard hand going in. Should the buoy be away, the rock can be avoided by not bringing the Bombay Rock to bear northward of N.E.

The bearings given are magnetic.